Man killed in West Bank raid by Palestinian forces

Palestinian security forces shot dead a wanted man on Tuesday during an arrest operation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a Palestinian official said.

Anwar Rajab, spokesman for the Palestinian security forces, said in a statement that a gun battle erupted during "an operation to arrest a wanted individual" in the northern West Bank, where Palestinian militant factions have a strong presence.

"The force was surprised by direct gunfire from outlaws" and returned fire, wounding "one of the prominent figures in the state of lawlessness in the area" who later died of his injuries, Rajab said.

The forces of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, had launched a military campaign late last year targeting people it describes as "outlaws", often referring to members of armed Palestinian factions.

Ahmed Asaad, governor of Tubas where Tuesday's raid took place, identified the deceased as 19-year-old Rami Zahran.

The governor said Zahran was killed at the entrance to the neighbouring Faraa refugee camp that he hailed from.

"The security forces were met with resistance and gunfire, and they responded to the source, which led to the killing of a young man," Asaad told AFP.

"Efforts are now underway to calm the situation", Asaad added, saying he had ordered an investigation into the incident including an autopsy.

Rajab said in his statement that "the Palestinian security forces will not allow any party or individual to threaten security and stability or bypass the law".

Later in the day, Rajab said that a 65-year-old passer-by, Faisal Khalil Sbaiya, had been killed by "outlaw" gunfire after being caught in an exchange of fire with security forces in the city of Jenin.

The operation that began in last year saw security forces clash with Palestinian militant factions that favour armed opposition to Israel and regularly criticise the PA for its security coordination with it.

The fighting resulted in the deaths of at least 15 Palestinians as well as six members of the Palestinian security forces.

The campaign drew criticism from Palestinians and ended in January, after the Israeli military launched a large-scale "counter-terrorism" operation in and around refugee camps in the northern West Bank.

The fighting, triggered by the arrests of several militants, involved Palestinian militant factions who favour armed opposition to Israel.

One of these factions, the Jenin Battalion, is largely made up of fighters affiliated with Islamic Jihad or Hamas.

Hamas, in power in Gaza since 2007, is the main political rival of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party, which dominates the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority.

"This indifference and blatant persistence in shedding Palestinian blood at the hands of those supposed to protect them can only be understood as a blatant disregard for all ethical and humanitarian standards by the leaders and personnel of these forces," Hamas said in a statement Tuesday.